Gun Cleaning Products

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lmacrichter

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I have read a lot about gun oils and cleaning products lately and have a question. Most people seem to use Hoppes, Remoil or Lucas. I have been using Otters products since I got my first shot gun when I was 9 years old. I am 64 now and have never had a problem with Otters. Just wondered if I am missing something or if it is as good as the other products I read about.
 
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Nope. Lots of opinions about what's "best" but there's nothing wrong with what you're using if it works for you. People have their preferences, and there's nothing wrong with that. You can try other items to see how they work for you, or experiment to see if some things work better for certain situations, but there's no reason you have to change.
 
lmacrichter said:
I have read a lot about gun oils and cleaning products lately and have a question. Most people seem to use Hoppes, Remoil or Lucas. I have been using Otters products since I got my first shot gun when I was 9 years old. I am 64 now and have never had a problem with Otters. Just wondered if I am missing something or if it is as good as the other products I read about.
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Otters or Outers?
 
I would guess there are a whole lot of "miracle products" out there and more being introduced all the time as bigger, better and faster.
I always figured if it works for me and I like it, why keep searching for the new and improved? If it works for you and you like it, keep using it.
 
The last couple guns I bought has a sample of Lucas oil, I have tried the CLP it works pretty well. But I have Hoppe's around for soaking the semi auto barrels.
 
For me Hoppes and Rem oil seems to work best on my stainless pistols and CLP for the Shield .
 

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Ballistol. Cleans the bore, lubricates the action, never solidifies, also good for wood, leather, and easy on skin. It's really almost too good to believe, but it is my all around first choice for all lubricating needs, hinges, threads, but also for gun cleaning. You don't need a rubber mat on your workbench, the wood looks better after Ballistol is on it. Just my opinion, yours may vary!
 
gun cleaning products

I have been using MPRO7 products for many years and recommend the products to my students. They work best for me and on the forearms for the Law Enforcement agency that I held as armorer. The military uses the product and many other law enforcement agencies use the product. I would certainly try other products and stick with the one that works best for you.

Nick
 
I think I have tried just about every lubricating and cleaning product ever made. Now I use Brake Clean and Mobil 1 on everything except the slide rails. I use Slide Glide (sold by Brian Enos) on the slide when doing a cleaning, Mobil 1 is used at a match if the gun feels like it's starting to drag. During the season I probably shoot around 800 rounds a week on average. Haven't had any problems. I don't think there is anything wrong with the "snake oil" products, just don't think they're necessary. (the oil I get for free (sort of) my wife and I's cars both take Mobil 1.
 
I'm a fool for what's new, but I seem to always go back to Hoppes for cleaning and Slip 2000 EWL for lubrication. I do use a grease on aluminum frame pistols like EWG, Hurley's Gold or TW25.
 
For cleaning handguns , lots of products work fine, but I doubt anything will work any better than plain Hoppes #9 or Ed's Red.

The late Warren Page, long-time gun writer, hunter, and benchrest shooter who received many product samples was once asked his opinion on the best bore cleaner. His reply was simply, "Whatever's free".
 
ive been using "weapon shield" for years. works very well on my S&W revolvers.....
 
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Pequod said:
Ballistol. Cleans the bore, lubricates the action, never solidifies, also good for wood, leather, and easy on skin. It's really almost too good to believe, but it is my all around first choice for all lubricating needs, hinges, threads, but also for gun cleaning. You don't need a rubber mat on your workbench, the wood looks better after Ballistol is on it. Just my opinion, yours may vary!
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DITTO to Ballistol.
 
I have a lot, but usually just use odorless mineral spirits (OMS) for normal clean up. Smells not bad, works well to clean, cheap. For tougher jobs, mpro-7 is good (no odor, but I dont like what it does to my hands).

I admit I've been using frog lube more often. I actually like the smell, and it does seem to provide superior rust prevention. And most of my guns are in more danger of rust from non-use than from dirt from use. Too many guns, not enough time.
 
Pequod said:
Ballistol. Cleans the bore, lubricates the action, never solidifies, also good for wood, leather, and easy on skin. It's really almost too good to believe, but it is my all around first choice for all lubricating needs, hinges, threads, but also for gun cleaning. You don't need a rubber mat on your workbench, the wood looks better after Ballistol is on it. Just my opinion, yours may vary!
Click to expand...

I've used Ballistol for a while, mostly for running through a bore after firing WWII corrosive .30-06 ammo as it neutralizes the salt in the priming compound. I've never tried it for cleaning and it may indeed work very well.

Just can't get over that "dirty feet" aroma that fills the work area even when used very sparingly...
 
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Pretty much all the Solvents and Oils that have been around for a long time will work just fine. If they did not work they would have been long gone.

Everyone has their personal preferences, smell, color, consistency, etc but as long as it gets the job done - it's good!

I use to use Hoppes exclusively but don't use it too much any longer because I got tired of hearing my wife complain about the great aroma (at least to me). :D Now I use Rig #2 Oil about 99% of the time. It's a cleaner, lube and preservative. It is mild enough not to harm wood, rubber, synthetic, etc. but still does a great job of cleaning, lubricating and keeping the rust away. It smells pleasant, it's affordable and it's what I've been relying on for almost 40 years now.

On occasion I still will use Hoppes, Outers, Gunslick, etc. just because I have it or the job may need something a bit different The most important thing is to use SOMETHING after every outing.
 
hobby-gunsmith said:
I have been using MPRO7 products for many years and recommend the products to my students. They work best for me and on the forearms for the Law Enforcement agency that I held as armorer. The military uses the product and many other law enforcement agencies use the product. I would certainly try other products and stick with the one that works best for you.

Nick
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M-Pro 7 is one of the few products that really blew my mind. For years I used all the standards. I would spray one of those carb cleaner type cleaner/degreasers (Gun Scrubber, Blast and Shine, Action Cleaner, or Powder Blast), followed by a bore cleaner like Hoppe's, then oil with Hoppes, RemOil, CLP, or FP-10. But a few years ago I bought the M-Pro 7 kit and have now converted completely.

The M-Pro 7 gun cleaner is not only more effective, it smells like sort of like Ivory soap and is much safer to use on most surfaces than those old acetone based carb cleaner type degreasers. As a bore cleaner, it seems to work much faster than Hoppe's. They make a very nice copper cleaner as well. Their gun oil LPX is expensive but is very good, I find it superior to the other oils and CLPs. They also now make a grease syringe that I have yet to try. I read that Hoppe's Elite is also a version of M-Pro 7, but I am not sure of the differences.

While I do not want to sound like an advertisement, I have to agree M-Pro 7 is a really great product. It might cost more, but it is worth it!
 
I've got a whole tub full of cleaners, lubes, snake oil, etc. I keep going back to the old trusted Hoppes#9 or Ed's Red. Both get the job done. Hoppes Elite or just plain old transmission fluid for a lube. I haven't tried it but I'm thinking Mobile 1 would be about as good as anything out there.
 
I've got this cabinet in my Workshop with plenty of choices - still 99% of the time I use the Rig#2. :)
 

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What you use isn't as critical as doing the job. Proper care is what counts. I like Balistol, but Mrs hates the aroma. So, it's back to Hoppe's #9 and Rem Oil. Not necessarily because it's the best, it's what I have.
 
Corrosion X for all the innards.

RIG for all the outer's.

And, there is a complete money back guarantee for what you paid for this opinion...:D

enjoy,

bdGreen
 
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